One of my earliest memories of my childhood (and probably of your own) is sitting on the sofa in our living room and watching this movie. When you're three or four years old, you love it wholeheartedly and are certainly in awe by it, but can never fully appreciate the absolute masterpiece that this film is. No, people, Disney is not always for small children -- Disney is for EVERYONE, and that's what Walt Disney gives us here: something for everyone.
First, you must look at the script -- a script full of wit and humor and at the same time with heart, humanity, sentimentality, and a lesson that often seems to be forgotten: material things and riches mean so much less than family and children and the little pleasures in life. Director Robert Stevenson makes this film a feast for the eyes that also speaks to the heart.
Then you have the wonderful score by the Sherman brothers, Robert and Richard, chock full of brilliant tunes like "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and "A Spoonful of Sugar" that are light and full of breezy fun, a total antithesis to one of the most poignant, haunting melodies in the whole film, "Feed the Birds."
You also have an amazing cast that features two amazing and adorable children, Karen Dotrice as Jane and Matthew Garber as Michael. You also have veteran character actors like Ed Wynn (Uncle Albert), Elsa Lanchester (Katie Nanna), Reta Shaw (Mrs. Brill), Hermoine Baddeley (Ellen), and even Jane Darwell ("The Bird Lady") lighting up the screen. The ever-radiant Glynis Johns plays Winifred Banks, the children's mother and a suffragette whose "cause infuriates Mr. Banks." While she only gets one song, "Sister Suffragette" is an unforgettable number and she plays the part with a flair that only Glynis Johns can. Disney veteran David Tomlinson plays George Banks, Esquire, the children's father and a devout businessman who believes that the most important things in life are being head of a ship-shape household and carving "his niche in the edifice of time" at Fidelity Fiduciary Bank. He gives a superb performance and shows us that it's never too late to learn what is really most important in life. Dick Van Dyke is outstanding as Burt, the "jack-of-all-trades" who not only has his own one-man-band, but is an artist as well as a chimney sweep. Van Dyke's comedic skills are in top form here -- he plays the part with such enthusiasm and his golden voice and incredible dancing are part of what makes this film such a treat. Finally, we are graced the presence of Mary Poppins herself, Miss Julie Andrews. Fresh from the Broadway production of "Camelot," with that first glimpse of her floating down from the sky, you know you're going to fall in love with her. While portrayed seemingly younger than the Mary Poppins in P.L. Travers' beloved books upon which the film is based, Julie Andrews plays Mary to perfection: very proper, very intelligent, a bit distant as to avoid any sentimental attachments but never too far removed, enchanting, intriguing -- a woman who knows exactly what she's doing and how she can help the Banks family to be just that -- a true family. Her voice is exquisite throughout the film.
This film isn't just for the little ones, it's a film for anyone -- you're sure to love this film (that I must say is just as good as about any other movie musical aimed more toward the adult set) just as much when you're fifty as you did when you were five. Take it from someone who's seen this film more times than she can count, this is one phenomenal piece of magic captured on film, and we owe it all to the magic maker himself: Walt Disney.
First, you must look at the script -- a script full of wit and humor and at the same time with heart, humanity, sentimentality, and a lesson that often seems to be forgotten: material things and riches mean so much less than family and children and the little pleasures in life. Director Robert Stevenson makes this film a feast for the eyes that also speaks to the heart.
Then you have the wonderful score by the Sherman brothers, Robert and Richard, chock full of brilliant tunes like "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and "A Spoonful of Sugar" that are light and full of breezy fun, a total antithesis to one of the most poignant, haunting melodies in the whole film, "Feed the Birds."
You also have an amazing cast that features two amazing and adorable children, Karen Dotrice as Jane and Matthew Garber as Michael. You also have veteran character actors like Ed Wynn (Uncle Albert), Elsa Lanchester (Katie Nanna), Reta Shaw (Mrs. Brill), Hermoine Baddeley (Ellen), and even Jane Darwell ("The Bird Lady") lighting up the screen. The ever-radiant Glynis Johns plays Winifred Banks, the children's mother and a suffragette whose "cause infuriates Mr. Banks." While she only gets one song, "Sister Suffragette" is an unforgettable number and she plays the part with a flair that only Glynis Johns can. Disney veteran David Tomlinson plays George Banks, Esquire, the children's father and a devout businessman who believes that the most important things in life are being head of a ship-shape household and carving "his niche in the edifice of time" at Fidelity Fiduciary Bank. He gives a superb performance and shows us that it's never too late to learn what is really most important in life. Dick Van Dyke is outstanding as Burt, the "jack-of-all-trades" who not only has his own one-man-band, but is an artist as well as a chimney sweep. Van Dyke's comedic skills are in top form here -- he plays the part with such enthusiasm and his golden voice and incredible dancing are part of what makes this film such a treat. Finally, we are graced the presence of Mary Poppins herself, Miss Julie Andrews. Fresh from the Broadway production of "Camelot," with that first glimpse of her floating down from the sky, you know you're going to fall in love with her. While portrayed seemingly younger than the Mary Poppins in P.L. Travers' beloved books upon which the film is based, Julie Andrews plays Mary to perfection: very proper, very intelligent, a bit distant as to avoid any sentimental attachments but never too far removed, enchanting, intriguing -- a woman who knows exactly what she's doing and how she can help the Banks family to be just that -- a true family. Her voice is exquisite throughout the film.
This film isn't just for the little ones, it's a film for anyone -- you're sure to love this film (that I must say is just as good as about any other movie musical aimed more toward the adult set) just as much when you're fifty as you did when you were five. Take it from someone who's seen this film more times than she can count, this is one phenomenal piece of magic captured on film, and we owe it all to the magic maker himself: Walt Disney.